With the launching of new multi-disciplinary Oceanographic Research Vessel RV Sindhu Sadhana, on 31 July 2012, at ABG Shipyard, Surat, in the presence of Prof. Samir K Brahmachari, Director General, CSIR, the CSIR-NIO achieved an important milestone in the history of the institute. This is one of the ambitious and prestigious projects of the CSIR taken up at a cost of Rs. 226.51 crores.

The new Oceanographic Research Vessel will greatly enhance the capabilities of Indian oceanographers to make multi-disciplinary observations, with adequate spatial and temporal resolution, enabling them to understand the oceanographic process in the seas around India and to translate this knowledge to benefit the nation.

The data collected with the vessel are expected to lead to a quantitative understanding of, with a capability to predict future changes in, oceanographic processes in our seas and how they affect our economy by controlling climate and resources. The expected outputs include:

Understanding of air-sea exchange processes that would improve capability of forecasting monsoon rainfall and extreme events such as the cyclones

Predictive models for future alterations of physical and biogeochemical environments due to global warming/anthropogenic perturbations.

Resource mapping: identification of new living and non-living resources

Census of marine life

Human resource development

International collaboration - leadership in regional and international programmes; Networking with other organizations in the Indian Ocean region; Consolidating our position as the leaders in oceanographic research in the Indian Ocean region.